The Scary Short Stories Blog by award-winning author Andrew Barger (that would be me). It's where I discuss the scariest stories in the supernatural genres. I emphasize classic scary short stories. I also provide insight into the origins of the stories and the authors behind them. Visit AndrewBarger.com to check out my books and to be scared.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Informal Poll of the Best Horror Short Stories

Before I countdown the Top 10 ghost stories for the first half of the 19th century, I started a discussion at the Kindle forums for people's favorite horror short stories. Here is the list, in no particular order:

Edgar Allan Poe: The Black Cat (2), The Cask of Amontillado (4), The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, The Pit and the PendulumWashington Irving: The Legend of Sleepy HollowAlgernon Blackwood: The Willows (2)Robert Chambers: The King in Yellow, The Yellow SignCharlotte Perkins Gilman: The Yellow Wallpaper Neil Gaiman: Don't Ask Jack, October in the ChairClive Barker: The Body Politic, Hellbound HeartShirley Jackson: The Summer People (2), The LotteryMary E Wilkins: The Wind in the Rose-Bush Joyce Carol Oates: Night-SideRobert Bloch: Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper, The Night Before ChristmasRay Bradbury: The Crowd, The VeldtEdward Bulwer-Lytton: The Haunters and the Haunted Theodore Sturgeon: Vengeance isPeter Straub: A Short Guide to the CityCortozar: House Taken OverE.F. Benson: The Room in the Tower George R.R. Martin: Sandkings Stephen King: Quitters Inc. (2), Mrs. Todd's Shortcut (2), Crouch End (2), Breathing Method, One for the Road, The Reaper's Image, The Reach, The Mangler, Rainy Season, The Ledge, The Jaunt, Survivor Type, The Mist, SundogJames Everington: A Writer's Words, The Other RoomJeffrey Deaver: Beautiful H.P. Lovecraft: In The Vault, The Call of Cthulhu, The Colour out of Space (2), Dreams in the Witch House, The Outsider, The Music of Eric Zann, Shadow Over InnsmouthArthur Machen: The Great God Pan (2), Haunter of the DarkR.L. Stevenson: The Merry Men Charles Grant: This Old Man, The Garden of Blackred RosesT.E.D. Klein: Children of the Kingdom Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla, Green TeaNathaniel Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown, The Minister's Black VeilRobert E. Howard: Pigeons From HellA.M. Burrage: The Waxwork H.R. Wakefield: He Cometh and He Passeth By Ramsey Campbell: The Guide, The Companion (2) M. R. James: Oh Whistle and I'll Come to you My Lad, The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, Count MagnusL. M. Boston: CurfewRoger Johnson: The Wall Painting R. H. Malden: The SundialMichael Shea: The AutopsyRobert Aickman: The School Friend, Into the Wood, The SwordsGuy N Smith: Last TrainNigel Kneale: MinukeKen Aldman: The Papal Magician John Collier: Evening PrimroseRoald Dahl: Slaughter, PigF. Paul Wilson: SoftOrson Scott Card: Eumenides, In The Fourth Floor LavatoryPeter Watts: The ThingsWilliam Hope Hodgson: The House on the Borderland, The Voice in the Night

You can few of these scary stories in The Best Horror Stories Anthology that I edited, which was a finalist in the anthology category of the Indie Book Awards.